Govt pledges to safeguard Rangoon architecture

President’s Office Minister Soe Thane pledged government commitment to preserving Rangoon’s architectural heritage in a speech in Burma’s former capital on Sunday.

Speaking at the event entitled “Building the Future; The Role of Heritage in the Sustainable Development of Yangon” on 17 January, the minister said that the government requires cooperation from international organisations and private companies in implementing urban development.

He stressed that construction companies should follow official regulations in order to preserve buildings of cultural significance in Rangoon, such as the Shwedagon pagoda.

“There are different limitations laid out by the Rangoon authorities on how tall a building can be around the Shwedagon pagoda area, within one mile, two miles and three miles respectfully, and everyone must follow these regulations,” said Soe Thane.

In a statement before the event, the partnership identified challenges to architectural protection in Burma as the weak regulatory framework, limited professional planning expertise, and mounting pressures for development, all of which leave Rangoon vulnerable to hasty decision making.